gnu, being in actuality a peaceful sort I wish that that 2+ mile shot had been on a target range. I really do. But as a feat of shooting it stands alone. So, a question: are Canadian snipers trying to outdo each other?

Fifty caliber weapons (except for muzzleloaders) are not hunting weapons. Anyone who shoots at an animal that is at or worse, beyond, the limits of their "usable range" is looking for a miss or a wounded quarry. Showing off belongs on a range, if it belongs anywhere. It never belongs in the hunting field.

Rap... only those confirmed by GPS. The previous record was also by a Canuck, in Afghanistan, by over 4km as per range finder. I was sent the video link by my late Bro years ago (RCAF, Ret.). I watched it. I asked him not to send me any more links to such and here is why. At that time, I could not understand how a sniper that was kilometers away could tell the difference between the 'enemy' and a goat hunter feeding his family. I have other thoughts on being involved in a 'military conflict' over an oil pipeline and opium about 8000 miles from where I type but I'll keep them to myself. I don't care much for goat meat. >;-)

I will, however, comment on the ammo used by three of the four snipers with the longest confirmed kills. Canucks using Hornady. Hornady! I wouldn't used Hornady. Dog damned things will jam faster than shit through a goose in a hunting rifle. In a McMillan Tac-50, fine, but we don't use Tacs ta hunt here on accounta we have gun laws. Besides, half the part of gettin yer moose is guttin and skinnin and butcherin while drinkin ales. With a Tac, ya just pull the trigger and it's all done except fer puttin it in the freezer.

Oh, Mom, hello! I've been away in the wild northern climes where the fingers of warm and golden summer have just begun scratching the pate of the rain-weary denizens of Maine. Been viting along the Penobscot for a few days. Had a grand time, I don't mind telling you. I had to get up at 3 AM this morning to get to Bango in time for a six AM flight. Life is rough but I am rougher.

Awright, I'm home again. Seattle was nice, but though I may roam 'mid pleasures and palaces, be it ever so humble, there's no place like home! Yes indeed, a charm from the sky seems to hallow us there, and though we seek thro' the world, it's ne'er met with elsewhere.

To thee, I'll return though overburdened with care and the heart's dearest solace will smile on me there. And I swear that no more from that cottage Again I will roam, for be it ever so humble, there's no place like home! Home, home, sweet, sweet home!

gnu, there was a report -- confirmed -- today that a Canadian sniper in Iraq disrupted a Daesh attack with a shot at 3,450 meters (3,772.9 yards, er over two miles). This is the longest sniper shot ever recorded. It was done by a Canadian, ferchrissake! Canadians can't shoot that well! Hell, they're all snow blind! Must have been an USian embedded with the Canucks to teach them shooting skills. As IUS general Dan Sedgewick once said, "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist...."

PS: the target didn't have to be a person -- it was probably a convoy of tanks or something.

The mob always talks one-on-one: "You ain't got the money? Guess I gotta bust your knees, huh? Oh, you can get it? Okay, go get it and I'll keep your old lady company right here until you come back, okay? Now git!"

Too much crap news lately It is a veritable grim fest regarding all but a half dozen BS titles lately. Even here in the refuge of MOM there is info on hot loads that can cut a crankshaft in half right through the block or huge swords that weigh 11 lbs. There is good news however. We have finally witnessed a black hole form without a nova explosion. 'gentle black holes'. New uses for CRSPER and the Nats are in first place.

May I suggest 3 helpful tips; suspect all advice from car salesman or real estate agents, do not engage in a land war in Asia and talking one on one is better than joining a mob.

It's not uncommon for me to arrive home from an errand or whatever and find deer in my driveway. Today, however, I returned home to find cattle instead. A tree must have fallen on my wannabe cattle baron neighbor's fence. I called him up and reported the escapees, but I did not assist in the roundup. Those cattle are bigger than me and they have horns.

Of course it is! I phrase it that way so that the repetition would reinforce the statement in those who cannot grasp the statement without such reinforcement. You see, redundancy allows repetition, implied or overt, to aid people to better understand that statement. It helps people "make it their own", you see, and keep the thoughts expressed in their mind better than if there was no redundancy. Do you now understand why I phrased it as I did? It was, after all, a rhetorical device to help you and others better understand the truth of the statement.

Got me. I can't afford what I shoot now, and I sure as hell wouldn't shoot one of those things even if I was paid to do it (well, if they paid enough, maybe). I think some people do something to prove something to someone else. I got over that a long, long time ago. After all, when you're perfect in every way you have to prove nothin' to nobody.

Mom, I can't check in again until this evening, so stay as sober as you can can remember that Amos and gnu have the bail money, depending on whether you need it in the US or Canada. Remember, Acme has your passport and you can't leave the country without it -- remember what happened the last time you tried. I think Homeland Security has "shoot to badly wound" order now...no more water balloons!!

Bee-dubya-ell started it! I just reported on what I did on Saturday! It's his fault! Punish him! Ground him! Ground him! And ground Donuel too! There ain't no such word even in German as what he said! He's thinking of "sturm und drang"! Ground him! You have to use words from der echte Welt and not from der Traumwelt with Mom!! Ground him and him!

On a side note, we're off to Seattle in three and a half hours to have folks at the Fred Hutch and SCCA examine and discuss treatments with Pat. But I'll check in, so don't do anything naughty or I'll tell!

Well, Bee-Dubya, it isn't the biggest "buffalo gun." There was the .50-90, the .50-100, and even the .50-110. These fifty calibers fired a 600+ grain bullet. I can't afford one, much less the ammunition! But just for you, a realman's gun! Let me know how it works out for you.

Donuel, I haven't signed anything in blood since I did that deal with Ole Skratch in Norway.

Rap should rap. He is not to be outdone. It is apparent I have wandered into his forte'. I warn you sir, stay out of Hilbert space. I will virtually annihilate virtual intrusions. You may hold dominion over the world of words if you leave me the domains of a new geometry, triple entendre, political follies and dersturmderveranderung.

You could get a Thompson/Center Contender with a .45-70 barrel* and experience the same amount of recoil but with the added thrill of potentially knocking yourself unconscious when that recoil slaps you in the forehead with the gun barrel. Wear a crash helmet.

* The Contender is "modular". Barrels are available in umpteen calibers and they all bolt onto the same frame.

Well, I went to the range and zeroed my .45-70 (.45-70 Government, with 405 grain bullets) so I can start doing long range target shooting. It's not zeroed at even 100 yards (91.44 meters) because it has lots and lots of recoil

I'll beet you to it and say, "Lettuce proceed." I don't turnip my nose at saying such things as this, and if someone leeks it, well, they show good taste. Indeed, it thrills me to the very marrow! I've bean working on some things for a while now and they're about to come to fruition. Yes, I'll be posting some grape stuff! Everyone here says, "Oh, mango gopher it!" But I don't know if I should listen to those who sit around the edge of the room, those walnuts. They'll always carp about something! Onion the other hand, chive don't know...perhaps I should stop for now because this is degenerating into pure corn.

Friday. Hard-fought through the work week to reach this point, when I have three days off in a row. I work a compressed schedule of four 10-hour days, so I'm a tired wreck by Friday night, but as long as the dogs get fed and the garage door closed, we're fine. And tomorrow is Saturday (too bad we have a heat advisory for the weekend, it means I have to get up at dawn if I want to work in the yard). MOM, wake me up early with a pot of tea so I can go mow the lawn before it feels like 110o.

Why do they call it Midsummer when it actually marks the beginning of summer? Midsummer should be the point midway between the first and last days of summer, which is August 4th. I shall defer my celebration until then.

If there is a Midsummer Mudcat Tavern, I can't be there, because I have been summoned to show up in a group regarding jury duty. When we will discover whether we will get through Voir Dire and then be seated, or not. Will let you know what transpires.

Beware the purple carrot. Carrots in the US are orange and can tan you up with high quantities of carotene. I bought a bag of frozen mixed colored carrots. Each color yellow etc. did not amount to one large carrot. I used them for stews and casseroles. The scant few slices of the blue carrots actually dyed any added meat to a deathly blue color. Now I know why we don't grow many blue carrots anymore. I knew a girl that ate mostly free mangos off the trees in Maui for 2 years. She turned orange. If you are fair, beware the blue carrot.

Bless those little MOABites That should have gone to school; Blessed be the MOABites That obey the golden rule.MOABites, love your betters, For they have cared for you; When you were little infants They watched and prayed for you.

Love your little thread-mates, Be gentle in your play, Be kind to your betters, And their commands obey.

Oh! then you will be happy In the world that seems so trite, For then your friends will love you Forever, MOABites.

Rap is the very model of an unrepentant plagiarist He steals from poets, playwrights, men of letters and anthologists His posts are often borrowed and they lack originality It surely is a symptom of a disturbed personality He steals from Shakespeare, Pope, and Swift and does so with impunity His lack of attribution is a blight on our community It's not that he is ignorant, he worked as a librarian He really does know better, but he must play the contrarian He has been warned repeatedly, yet in this crime he does persist Rap is the very model of an unrepentant plagiarist

The time is not remote, when I Must by the course of nature die; When I foresee my special friends Will try to find their private ends: Tho' it is hardly understood Which way my death can do them good, Yet thus, methinks, I hear 'em speak: 'See, how old Rap begins to break! Poor gentleman, he droops apace! You plainly find it in his face. That old vertigo in his head Will never leave him till he's dead. Besides, his memory decays: He recollects not what he says; He cannot call his friends to mind: Forgets the place where last he din'd; Plies you with stories o'er and o'er; He told them fifty times before. How does he fancy we can sit To hear his out-of-fashion'd wit? But he takes up with younger folks, Who for his wine will bear his jokes.